Pakistan Government Collapses, How Will This Affect The War On The Taliban

Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif gestures during a press conference in Islamabad, Pakistan, on Monday, Aug. 25, 2008. Pakistan's ruling coalition collapsed Monday, torn apart by internal bickering just a week after it drove U.S. ally Pervez Musharraf from the presidency. Nawaz Sharif, announced Monday that he was pulling out of the 5-month-old alliance because it failed to restore judges ousted by Musharraf or agree to a neutral replacement. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Pakistan's Ruling Coalition Collapses
Amid Dissent -- Washington Post

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Aug. 25 -- Pakistan plunged deeper into political chaos Monday as a top party in the country's coalition government vowed to quit the coalition and support an opposition candidate for the presidency.

Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-N party, said he plans to vigorously oppose his one-time political partner, Asif Ali Zardari, leader of the Pakistan People's Party and widower of slain former prime minister Benazir Bhutto. The announcement, which came a week after Pervez Musharraf resigned as Pakistan's president, set off a heated race for the presidency and raised questions about the future of the shaky alliance between the United States and Pakistan's top political leaders.

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More News On Pakistan And The War On The Taliban

Pakistan coalition splits one week after Musharraf resignation -- AFP/Yahoo News
Pakistan's ruling coalition collapses amid dissent -- AP/Yahoo News
Pakistan ruling coalition parts ways -- USA Today
FACTBOX - Pakistan political prospects as coalition splits -- Reuters
Pakistan's Ruling Coalition Collapses -- Time Magazine
Coalition of the Unwilling -- Newsweek
Pakistan bans Taliban after suicide bombings -- Yahoo News/AP
Pakistan coalition split won't affect war on terror: US -- AFP/Yahoo News
Pakistan: Nationwide security alert after new Taliban threats -- AKI-Adnkronos
‘No amnesty for militants even if they surrender’ -- Daily Times
PAKISTAN: Suicide bombings lead to suffering, fear -- IRIN
Militants ready for Pakistan's war -- Asia Times
Taliban militants banned in Pakistan -- Sydney Morning Herald
10 killed as Pakistan politician targeted -- CNN
Suicide attack, operation in Swat claim 67 lives -- Dawn Internet

My Comment: What has been a low intensity civil war is now one step away from a full scale war between the Taliban (and their sympathizers) and the central government of Pakistan. The problem for the central government and its military is that a majority of the people in Pakistan are supportive of Osama Bin Laden and Al Qaeda's objectives .... while the central government itself is divided into multiple loyalties and factional fighting.

I am sure that India, Afghanistan, Nato, and the U.S. are now evaluating their political and military relationships with Pakistan.